Object holder for a direct-to-object printer

ABSTRACT

What is disclosed is an object holder for retaining an object in a direct-to-object print system and a direct-to-object print system configured to use various embodiments of the object holder of the present invention. In one embodiment, the object holder comprises a shuttle mount configured to slideably traverse a support member positioned parallel to a plane formed by at least one printhead configured to eject marking material on to a surface of an object. A plurality of threads, at least partially comprising a flexible synthetic elastomer, are connected to the shuttle mount. The threads are joined together to form an elastic netting which can be manually expanded around the object to retain the object to the shuttle mount while the object is being printed in the direct-to-object print system.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention is directed to a printing system for depositingink directly on to a surface of an object and, more particular, to adevice which securely retains an object in the direct-to-object printsystem while the object is being printed on.

BACKGROUND

Printers known in the document reproduction arts apply a markingmaterial, such as ink or toner, onto a sheet of paper. To printsomething on an object that has a non-negligible depth such as a coffeecup, bottle, and the like, typically a label is printed and the printedlabel is applied to the surface of the object. However, in somemanufacturing and production environments, it is desirable to printdirectly on the object itself but this poses a diverse set of hurdleswhich must be overcome before such specialized direct-to-object printsystems become more widely accepted in commerce. One of these hurdles ishow to secure the object in such a specialized printer while the objectis being printed. Such direct-to-object print systems have a componentoften referred to as an object holder. The present invention isspecifically directed to an object holder for use in a direct-to-objectprint system designed to print directly on a surface of an object.

BRIEF SUMMARY

What is disclosed is an object holder for retaining an object in adirect-to-object print system. In one embodiment, the object holdercomprises a shuttle mount configured to slideably traverse a supportmember positioned parallel to a plane formed by at least one printheadconfigured to eject marking material on to a surface of an object. Aplurality of threads, at least partially comprising a flexible syntheticelastomer, are connected to the shuttle mount. The threads are joinedtogether to form an elastic netting which can be manually expandedaround the object to retain the object to the shuttle mount while theobject is being printed in the direct-to-object print system.

What is also disclosed is a direct-to-object print system configured touse various embodiments of the object holder of the present invention.In one embodiment, the direct-to-object print system incorporates atleast one printhead configured to eject marking material such as ink. Anobject holder configured to slideably traverse a support memberpositioned to be parallel to a plane formed by the printhead. Anactuator that operatively causes the object holder to move the objectalong the support member in to proximity of the printhead. A controllerwhich causes the printhead to eject marking material on to the objectheld by the object holder as the object moves past the printhead.

Features and advantages of the above-described apparatus anddirect-to-object print system will become readily apparent from thefollowing description and accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing and other features and advantages of the subject matterdisclosed herein will be made apparent from the following detaileddescription taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

FIG. 1 illustrates one example embodiment of the direct-to-object printsystem disclosed herein;

FIG. 2 shows one embodiment of the present object holder for retainingan object in a direct-to-object print system wherein a shuttle mountconfigured to slideably traverse the support member of FIG. 1 has aplurality of attachment points where ends of a plurality of threads areselectively attached;

FIG. 3 shows a side-view of the object holder of FIG. 2 wherein a useris grabbing point where the plurality of threads are joined together toelastically expand the threads in preparation for inserting an object tobe printed;

FIG. 4 shows a result of the manual operation of FIG. 3 wherein theobject holder of FIG. 2 retains an object, shown as a bottle;

FIG. 5 shows another embodiment of the present object holder forretaining an object in a direct-to-object print system wherein theshuttle mount is a ferrous metal and a plurality of magnets secure theplurality of threads to the shuttle mount;

FIG. 6 shows an alternative embodiment of the direct-to-object printsystem of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 shows another alternative embodiment of the direct-to-objectprint system of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 8 show one embodiment of the present direct-to-object print systemhoused in a cabinet.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

What is disclosed is an object holder for retaining an object in adirect-to-object print system, and a direct-to-object print systemconfigured to operatively use various embodiments of the object holderof the present invention.

Non-Limiting Definitions

An “object” has at least one surface thereof to be printed with ink.Example objects are sports equipment and paraphernalia, golf clubs andballs, commemorative gifts, coffee cups, to name a few.

A “direct-to-object print system” or simply “print system” is a printerdesigned to print on a surface of an object. The direct-to-object printsystem of FIG. 1 incorporates at least the following functionalcomponents: at least one printhead, a support member, an actuator, acontroller, and an object holder.

A “printhead” or “print head” is an element (such as an inkjet) whichemits or ejects a droplet of marking material such as ink on to asurface of an object thereby making a mark on that object. In oneembodiment, the direct-to-object print system has a plurality ofmonochrome printheads and a UV cure lamp. The print zone is a width of asingle M-series printhead (˜4 inches). Each printhead is fluidlyconnected to a supply of marking material (not shown). Some or all ofthe printheads may be connected to the same supply. Each printhead canbe connected to its own supply so each printhead ejects a differentmarking material. A 10×1 array of printheads is shown at 104 of FIG. 1.

A “support member”, at 106 of FIG. 1, is positioned to be parallel to aplane formed by the printheads and is oriented so that one end of thesupport member is at a higher gravitational potential than the other endof the support member. The vertical configuration of the printheads andthe support member enables the present direct-to-object print system tohave a smaller footprint than a system configured with a horizontalorientation of the printheads and support member. In an alternativeembodiment, a horizontal configuration orients the printheads such thatthe object holder moves an object past the horizontally arrangedprintheads.

An “actuator”, at 110 of FIG. 1, is an electro-mechanical device thatcauses the object holder to slideably traverse the support member. Inone embodiment, a controller causes the actuator to move an objectholder at speeds that attenuate the air turbulence in a gap between theprinthead and the surface of the object being printed.

An “object holder” physically restrains an object while the objectholder is moving along the support member so that the object can passthe printhead. The object holder generally comprises a shuttle mount 112configured to slideably traverse the support member 106 and a pluralityof threads 113 attached to the mount.

An “elastomeric thread” is a relatively thin threadlike syntheticpolymer or natural fiber that can withstand high stress due toelongation up to a breaking point, and which can substantially recoverits original shape after elongation. An elastomer is a polymer with thephysical property of elasticity. Elastomeric fibers include thecrosslinked natural and synthetic rubbers, segmented polyurethanes, andcrosslinked poly-acrylates. The plurality of threads of the presentobject holder are either fully elastomeric or are at least partiallyelastomeric so the threads for a netting that can be manually expandedto stretch around an object to be retained on the shuttle mount.

A “controller”, at 114 of FIG. 1, is a processor or ASIC which controlsvarious components of the present direct-to-object print system. Thecontroller is configured to retrieve machine readable programinstructions from memory 116 which, when executed, configure thecontroller to signal or otherwise operate the actuator 110 to move theobject holder past the printheads. When other retrieved instructions areexecuted, the controller is configured to signal, or otherwise operatethe printheads to start/stop ejecting marking material at a precise timeand at a desired location on a surface of the object retained by theobject holder. The controller may be further configured to operate thevarious printheads such that individual printheads eject different sizedroplets of marking material. The controller may be configured tocommunicate with a user interface.

A “user interface”, at 118 of FIG. 1, generally comprises a display 120such as a touchscreen, monitor, or LCD device for presenting visualinformation to a user, an annunciator 122 which emits an audible sound,and an input device 124 such as a keypad for receiving a user input orselection. The controller can be configured to operate the userinterface to notify an operator of a failure. The controller monitorsthe system to detect the configuration of the printheads in the systemand the inks being supplied to the printheads. If the inks or theprinthead configuration is unable to print the objects accurately andappropriately then a message is presented to the user on the display ofthe user interface that, for example, inks need to be changed or thatthe printheads needs to be reconfigured. The controller can beconfigured to use the annunciator of the user interface to inform theoperator of a system status and to attract attention to fault conditionsand displayed messages. The user interface may further include a warninglight.

An “identification tag”, at 126 of FIG. 1, is a machine-readable indiciathat is attached to the object holder. The identification tag embodiesan identifier that is readable or otherwise receivable by an inputdevice such as sensor 128. The identifier contains information about theobject being printed and/or the location of the object as it traversesthe support member. The received identifier is, in turn, communicated tothe controller. The identification tag can be, for example, a radiofrequency identification (RFID) tag with the input device being a RFIDreader. The identification tag can also be a barcode with the inputdevice being a barcode reader. In another embodiment, the identificationtag comprises one or more protrusions, indentations, or combinationsthereof in the object or object holder that can be detected or otherwiseread by a biased arm which follows a surface of an area comprising theidentification tag. In this embodiment, the biased arm is a cam followerthat converts the detected protrusions, indentations, and the likeposition of the mechanical indicia comprising the identification taginto electrical signals which, in turn, are communicated to thecontroller for processing. In other embodiments, the identification tagcomprises optical or electromagnetic indicia. The controller comparesthe identifier received from the input device to various identifiersstored in memory 116. The controller can disable operation of theactuator and/or the operation of the printheads in response to thereceived identifier failing to correspond to an identifier stored in thememory. The controller can also be configured to use the user interfaceto inform the operator of processing that needs to be performed. Forexample, an identification tag may indicate that an object in the objectholder requires special treatment such as pre-coating prior to printingor post-coating after the object is printed. A location of theidentification tag or a failure to detect an identification tag mayindicate to the controller that the object held by the object holder ismisaligned, has come loose, or is absent altogether. The controller, inthese examples, would communicate a message to the display 120 regardingthe detected condition(s).

A “sensor”, at 128 of FIG. 1, is a device such as a digital camera orother imaging device positioned to generate image data by imaging, forexample, a sheet of printed media with a test pattern. The controller isconfigured to receive the image data from the sensor and analyze theimage data to identify printhead alignment, image quality, and othermaintenance issues such as inoperative ejectors, low ink supply, or poorink quality. The controller uses the user interface to notify theoperation such that the operator is able to understand the reason whythe controller disabled of the direct-to-object print system.

Embodiments of Object Holders

Reference is now being made to FIG. 2 which shows one embodiment of thepresent object holder for securely retaining an object while it is beingprinted in a direct-to-object print system. The object holder 200 ofFIG. 2 comprises a shuttle mount 200 configured to slideably traversethe support member 106. The shuttle mount has a plurality of attachmentpoints 201 where ends of the elastomeric threads 202 can be selectivelyattached and detached. The plurality of threads 202 are joined together(at 203) to collectively form an elastically expandable netting whichfunctions to retain an object (not shown) to the shuttle mount 200. FIG.3 which shows a side-view of the object holder of FIG. 2 wherein a user301 is grabbing point 203 where the plurality of elastomeric threads 202are joined together to elastically expand (at 302) the threads inpreparation for inserting an object to be printed. FIG. 4 shows a resultof the manual operation of FIG. 3 wherein the object holder of FIG. 2retains an object, shown as a bottle 400.

Reference is now being made to FIG. 5 which shows another embodiment ofthe present object holder for securely retaining a 3-dimensional objectwhile it is being printed in a direct-to-object print system. The objectholder of FIG. 5 comprises a ferrous metallic shuttle mount 500configured to slideably traverse the support member 106. A plurality ofmagnets 501 secure one or more ends of each of a plurality of elastomerthreads 502 to the shuttle mount 500. A portion of the plurality ofthreads 502 are joined together (at 503) to collectively form anelastically expandable netting which functions to retain an object (notshown) to the shuttle mount 200.

It should be appreciated that the embodiments shown are for explanatorypurposes and should not be viewed as limiting the scope of the appendedclaims strictly to those embodiments. Other embodiments with differentconfigurations of differently shaped shuttle mounts are intended to fallwithin the scope of the appended claims.

Embodiments of Direct-To-Object Print Systems

What is also disclosed is a direct-to-object print system configured touse various embodiments of the object holder of the present invention.

Reference is now being made to FIG. 6 which illustrates an alternativeembodiment to the direct-to-object print system of FIG. 1 which uses abelt to move the object holder past the printheads. The support membercomprises a pair of support members 606A and 606B about which theshuttle mount 112 is slideably attached. A pair of fixedly positionedpulleys 608A and 608B and a belt 610 form an endless belt entrainedabout the pair of pulleys, and a rotatable pulley 612 engages theendless belt to enable the third pulley to rotate in response to themovement of the endless belt moving about the pair of pulleys to movethe object holder disclosed herein. The actuator 616 operatively rotatesthe drive pulley to move the endless belt about the pulleys. Thecontroller 114 is configured to operate the actuator. The object holderof FIG. 1 has been omitted to show underlying components.

Reference is now being made to FIG. 7 which illustrates yet anotherembodiment of the direct-to-object print system of FIG. 1. One end of abelt 702 is operatively connected to a take-up reel 704 that isoperatively connected to the actuator 616. The other end of the belt ispositionally fixed at 706. The belt also engages a rotatable pulley 612attached to the object holder. The support member comprises a pair ofsupport members 606A and 606B about which the shuttle mount 112 isslideably attached. The actuator rotates the take-up reel to wind aportion of the length of the belt about the take-up reel to cause theobject holder to move past the printheads. The actuator unwinds the beltfrom the take-up reel. The controller 114 is configured to operate theactuator. The object holder of FIG. 1 has been omitted to showunderlying components.

Reference is now being made to FIG. 8 which shows an embodiment of thepresent direct-to-object print system 800 housed in a cabinet 802. Theobject holder is omitted.

The direct-to-object print system disclosed herein can be placed incommunication with a workstation, as are generally understood in thecomputing arts. Such a workstation has a computer case which housesvarious components such as a motherboard with a processor and memory, anetwork card, a video card, a hard drive capable of reading/writing tomachine readable media such as a floppy disk, optical disk, CD-ROM, DVD,magnetic tape, and the like, and other software and hardware needed toperform the functionality of a computer workstation. The workstationfurther includes a display device, such as a CRT, LCD, or touchscreendevice, for displaying information, images, classifications, computedvalues, extracted vessels, patient medical information, results, interimvalues, and the like. A user can view any of that information and make aselection from menu options displayed thereon. The workstation has anoperating system and other specialized software configured to displayalphanumeric values, menus, scroll bars, dials, slideable bars,pull-down options, selectable buttons, and the like, for entering,selecting, modifying, and accepting information needed for processing inaccordance with the teachings hereof. The workstation can display imagesand information about the operations of the present direct-to-objectprint system. A user or technician can use a user interface of theworkstation to set parameters, view/adjust/delete values, and adjustvarious aspects of various operational components of the presentdirect-to-object print system, as needed or desired, depending on theimplementation. These selections or inputs may be stored to a storagedevice. Settings can be retrieved from the storage device. Theworkstation can be a laptop, mainframe, or a special purpose computersuch as an ASIC, circuit, or the like.

Any of the components of the workstation may be placed in communicationwith any of the modules and processing units of the direct-to-objectprint system and any of the operational components of the presentdirect-to-object print system can be placed in communication withstorage devices and computer readable media and may store/retrievetherefrom data, variables, records, parameters, functions, and/ormachine readable/executable program instructions, as needed to performtheir intended functions. The various components of the presentdirect-to-object print system may be placed in communication with one ormore remote devices over network via a wired or wireless protocol. Itshould be appreciated that some or all of the functionality performed byany of the components of the direct-to-object print system can becontrolled, in whole or in part, by the workstation.

The teachings hereof can be implemented in hardware or software usingany known or later developed systems, structures, devices, and/orsoftware by those skilled in the applicable art without undueexperimentation from the functional description provided herein with ageneral knowledge of the relevant arts. One or more aspects of thesystems disclosed herein may be incorporated in an article ofmanufacture which may be shipped, sold, leased, or otherwise providedseparately either alone or as part of a product suite or a service. Theabove-disclosed and other features and functions, or alternativesthereof, may be desirably combined into other different systems orapplications.

Presently unforeseen or unanticipated alternatives, modifications,variations, or improvements may become apparent and/or subsequently madeby those skilled in this art which are also intended to be encompassedby the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An object holder for retaining an object in adirect-to-object print system, the object holder comprising: asubstantially rectangular shuttle mount with four corners, a print sideand a support member side, the support member side of the substantiallyrectangular shuttle mount configured to slideably traverse a supportmember positioned parallel to a plane formed by at least one printheadof a direct-to-object print system onto the print side of thesubstantially rectangular shuttle mount; four or more attachment points,wherein at least one of the four or more attachment points disposedadjacent to each of the four corners of the print side of thesubstantially rectangular shuttle mount; and a plurality of threadsattached to the four or more attachment points of the print side of thesubstantially rectangular shuttle mount, the threads being at leastpartially elastomeric so the threads can be manually expanded around anobject.
 2. The object holder of claim 1, wherein the print side of thesubstantially rectangular shuttle mount is a ferrous metal, and the fouror more attachment points further comprising a plurality of magnetssecuring the ends of the threads to the print side of the substantiallyrectangular shuttle mount.
 3. The object holder of claim 2, wherein theplurality of magnets are neodymium.
 4. The object holder of claim 1,wherein the plurality of threads are joined to form a netting.
 5. Theobject holder of claim 1, wherein the print side of the substantiallyrectangular shuttle mount has a plurality of attachment points, an endof each of the threads being selectively connected to any of theattachment points.
 6. A direct-to-object print system for printing on asurface of an object, the direct-to-object print system comprising: atleast one printhead configured to eject marking material on to a surfaceof an object; a support member positioned parallel to a plane formed bythe printhead; an object holder comprising: a substantially rectangularshuttle mount with four corners, a print side and a support member side,the support member side of the substantially rectangular shuttle mountconfigured to slideably traverse the support member; four or moreattachment points, wherein at least one of the four or more attachmentpoints disposed adjacent to each of the four corners of the print sideof the substantially rectangular shuttle mount; and a plurality ofthreads attached to the four or more attachment points of the print sideof the substantially rectangular shuttle mount, the threads being atleast partially elastomeric so the threads can be manually expandedaround an object; and a controller configured to cause the printhead toeject marking material onto the object held by the object holder as theobject passes the printhead.
 7. The direct-to-object print system ofclaim 6, further comprising an actuator for operatively causing theobject holder to slideably traverse the support member.
 8. Thedirect-to-object print system of claim 7, further comprising a belt thatcontacts pulleys, one of the pulleys being operatively connected to theactuator which causes the pulley to move the belt about the pulleys andmove the object holder past the printhead.
 9. The direct-to-object printsystem of claim 8, wherein the belt is entrained about the pulleys toform an endless belt, further comprising an additional pulley thatengages the endless belt to enable the additional pulley to rotate inresponse to a movement of the endless belt to move the object holder.10. The direct-to-object print system of claim 7, further comprising anidentification tag and an input device.
 11. The direct-to-object printsystem of claim 10, wherein the identification tag comprises any of: aRFID tag containing an identifier and the input device is a RFID reader,a barcode containing an identifier and the input device is a barcodereader, and at least one mechanical feature and the input device is abiased arm that follows the mechanical features and converts a positionof the arm into an electrical signal comprising an identifier.
 12. Thedirect-to-object print system of claim 11, wherein the controller isfurther configured to: receive the identifier from the input device;compare the identifier to at least one identifier stored in a memory;and disable the actuator in response to the identifier failing tocorrespond to any of the identifiers stored in memory.
 13. Thedirect-to-object print system of claim 11, wherein the controller isfurther configured to: receive the identifier from the input device;compare the identifier to identifiers stored in a memory; and disableoperation of the printhead in response to the identifier failing tocorrespond to any of the identifiers stored in memory.
 14. Thedirect-to-object print system of claim 6, wherein the support member isoriented to enable one end of the support member to be at a highergravitational potential than another end of the support member.
 15. Thedirect-to-object print system of claim 6, wherein the print side of thesubstantially rectangular shuttle mount is a ferrous metal, and the fouror more attachment points further comprising a plurality of magnetssecuring the ends of the threads to the print side of the substantiallyrectangular shuttle mount.
 16. The direct-to-object print system ofclaim 15, wherein the plurality of magnets are neodymium.
 17. Thedirect-to-object print system of claim 6, wherein the plurality ofthreads are joined to form a netting.
 18. The direct-to-object printsystem of claim 6, wherein the print side of the substantiallyrectangular shuttle mount has a plurality of attachment points, an endof each of the threads being selectively connected to any of theattachment points.
 19. The direct-to-object print system of claim 6,wherein the controller is further configured to operate a user interfacecomprising any of: a display, a user input device, and an annunciatorfor emitting an audible sound.
 20. The direct-to-object print system ofclaim 19, wherein the controller is further configured to: detect aconfiguration of the printhead and ink supplied to the printhead; andcommunicate a message to the user interface, the message being any of:that ink needs to be changed, and that the printhead needs to bereconfigured.
 21. The direct-to-object print system of claim 6, furthercomprising a sensor positioned to generate image data from one of: theobject holder, the object, and a sheet of printed media, the controllerbeing configured to receive the image data from the sensor and analyzethe image data to identify any of: printhead alignment, image quality,and inoperative ejectors.